Telegraph-key attachment



N0. 6|9,4|0. Patented Feb. I4, i899. A. J. HENDRICKS.

TELEGRAPH KEY ATTACHMENT.

(Application led Aug. 80, 1898.) (No Model.)

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ATnNT ARTHUR J. HENDRICKS, OF CROCKETT, NEV YORK. l

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 619,410, dated February14, 1899,

Application iiled August 30, 1898. Serial No. 689,835. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR J. I-IENDRIcKs, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Crockett, in the county of Cayuga and State of NewYork, have invented a new and useful Telegraph-Key Attachment, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to telegraph-key attachments; and it has for itsobject to provide a new and useful attachment of this character capableof general application to all ordinary types of telegraphie keyinstruments and designed to provide simple and efcient means forautomatically closing the circuit through the key and maintaining thecircuit closed when the operator leaves the instrument.

To this end the main and primary object of the invention is to providemeans for ob- 4 viating the possibility of a telegraph operator throughcarelessnessor neglect leaving the transmitting-key open when not in useand thereby shutting off the whole line.

With this obj ect in view the invention consists of the novelconstruction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter morefully described, illustrated, and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of the herein-describedcircuit-closing attachment for telegraphic keys shown applied for use.Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the telegraphic key and thecircuitclosing attachment connected therewith.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 designates atelegraphic key of any approved type and having the usual circuit-Wireconnections therewith, said telegraphic key being mounted on theoperators table 2 by means of the ordinary securingbolts 3, whichperform their usual function of binding-posts for the attachment of theline-wire terminals thereto. Asis common in the ordinary types oftelegraphic keys, one of the combined securing-bolts and binding-posts 3supports at its upper end the usual anvil-contact 4, which is locatedbeneath the contact-stud 5 of the key-lever 6, carrying at one end theusual finger-piece 7 and at its opposite end the contactscrew 8.

The construction described involves the essential partsof an ordinarytelegraphic transmitting instrument or key, and to provide for normallyholding the key-lever in a position for closing the circ-uit through theinstrument I contemplate the employment of a fiat contact-spring 9. Thisiat or leaf contact-spring 9 is provided at one end with a bolt-openingreceiving the combined securing-bolt and binding-post 3, supporting theanvil-contact 4, so that when said combined bolt and post is tightenedup one end of the spring 9 is held rigidly in metallic contact with theanvil-contact 4, so as to beincluded in the circuit therewith. From itspoint of connection with the anvil-contact 4 the spring extendslongitudinally beneath the key-lever 6 and is provided at its free endwith an upturned terminal 10, which normally exerts a pressure againstthe operating end of the lever and holds the contacts 4 and 5 out ofengagement, while at the same time providing for closing the circuitthrough the key-lever. The free end of the contact-spring 9 has attachedthereto one end of a flexible pull connection 11, which .passes throughan insulated guide-bushing 12, inserted Within the operators table 2,and is connected at its other end beneath the table to anoperating-lever 13. This operating lever 13 may be of any desired form,such as a knee-swell lever or the like, but is preferably in the form ofa treadle, as illustrated in the drawings. The lleXible pull connection11 is connected to the swinging end of the treadle 13, whose other endmay be con'- veniently hinged or pivoted, as at 14, to the floor, andthefree end of said treadle may be held normally elevated by means of anelevating-spring 15 arranged therebeneath.

Normally the effect of the elevating-spring 15 is to slacken the pullconnection l1, so that the contact-spring will press against thekey-lever of the instrument in the manner described; but when theoperator sits down at the table to transmit a message the pressure ofthe foot on the treadle 13 will provide for depressing the free end ofthe spring 9 and open up the instrument, so that it can be used in theusual way. When the operator leaves the table and the instrument,thespring 9 resumes its normal position and automatic-V ally closes thecircuit through the instrument, so that it will not be necessary for theoper ator to exercise any care in this respect.

Changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of constructionmay be resorted to Without departing from the scope or sacrificing anyof the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent, is-

The combination with a telegraphic key, of a circuitclosing leaf-sprin gconnected at one end with the anvil-contact of the instrument, andprovided at the free end with an upturned terminal normally exerting apressure against the operating end of the key-lever, a

Xedly-positioned guide-bushing, a pull connection for the free end ofsaid spring passing through said guide-bushing, and a controlling-leverconnected with said pull connection, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

ARTHUR J. HENDRICKS.

Witnesses:

MILTON E. MARSH, J. EDWARDS.

